Chandra has been a partner with Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP for more than 20 years with an active practice in commercial litigation. He is the key contact with regards to Middle East disputes and is the Head of the Commercial Litigation practice group and the Private Client practice group.

Chandra is recognised as one of the best lawyers in Singapore in the areas of litigation and trust & estates by his peers in the 11th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Singapore.

Chandra graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a LLB (Hons) in 1986 and then obtained his LLM from the University of Cambridge in 1989. He was awarded the Law Society of Singapore Book Prize and B.A. Mallal Prize for academic distinction in Law School. He was also a member of the NUS Team that won the International Division of the Philip C Jessup International Law Moot Competition in Washington DC in 1986. After obtaining his LLM, he returned to NUS as a lecturer where he taught Securities Regulation and Conflict of Laws at the Faculty of Law.

Alongside his active practice, Chandra has been appointed as one of the Chairmen of the Citizenship Committee of Inquiry by the Minister for Home Affairs since June 2018. He is also a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He remains very active as a Council Member in the Northwest Community Development Council (NWCDC). He was appointed as the Chairman of the SkillsFuture Standing Committee since September 2017 and has been the Chairman of the Organising Committee for Club 100 @ NWCDC annual dinner (which raises funds for the NWCDC Food Aid Fund for needy residents) from 2010 to date. He has also been appointed as a member of SINDA Executive Committee for 2017 to 2019.

In recognition of his commendable contribution towards community services in Singapore, Chandra was presented with Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) (BBM) and the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) (PBM) at the 2015 and 2011 National Day Awards respectively.

To-date, Chandra is active in his alma mater where he previously served on the ACS Board of Governors from 1996 to 2015 and currently sits on the Anglo-Chinese School (International) Board of Management.

Experience

Chandra has extensive experience in various types of arbitration and commercial litigation work with special emphasis on professional negligence claims, shareholders’ disputes, employment disputes including minority oppression actions as well as property disputes. He acts for clients in a number of cross-border arbitration proceedings and also handles family matters including divorce proceedings, probate and trusts.

Acted for the Claimants in arbitration proceedings under ICC Rules relating to the termination of a construction contract and lease agreement in the Philippines. The quantum involved in the arbitration proceedings was at least US$7.5million, and notwithstanding other types of declaratory relief sought, which encompassed a substantial portion of the value of the lease agreement.

Acted in a claim by an international group of companies against a Sri Lankan institution in respect of the termination of a sports agreement.

Acted for the Respondents, Nimbus Sport International Pte Ltd, in arbitration proceeding under the UNCITRAL Rules.

Acted for the Claimants in an arbitration commenced pursuant to section 91 of the Co-operative Society Act read within the Arbitration Act.

Accreditation

Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths (Solicitors & Advocates)

Advocate & Solicitor, Supreme Court of Singapore

Solicitor of Supreme Court of England & Wales

Fellow, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK

Current Appointments

Council Member, Northwest Community Development Council (NWCDC) (2011 - Present)

Awards / Publications

Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) (BBM) National Day Awards 2015 for contribution towards community services

Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) (PBM), National Day Awards 2011 for contribution towards community services

Community Long Service Award in 2012, Prime Minister’s Office / People’s Association

Silver Medallion for Service to Education in 2005, Ministry of Education

Bronze Medallion for Service to Education in 2003, Ministry of Education

Publications

Contributor, article on “Family Business: Governance, Laws & Regulations in Singapore” to LexisNexis SA’s series “Comparative Law Solution, Short Study” for the exclusive benefit and use of the UAE Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

Contributor, “Singapore Precedents of Pleadings” published by Sweet & Maxwell in 2006.

“Some Contractual Approaches to the Problem of Inconsistent Awards in Multi-Party, Multi-Contract Arbitration Proceeding”, jointly written with Lim Wee Teck, to be published in Vol. 1, No. 2 of the Asian International Arbitration Journal published in November 2005, updated in 2009.

“Restraining Foreign Proceedings; A Return to the Law of “Vexation and Oppression”, MLR Vol 30 No. 1 July 1988